Metal gas stub in fireplace

[2PistolPacker]

I was reading another thread where the member had a black gas pipe sticking through the firebrick and it was recommended that be removed from the fireplace. I have the same issue and since my basement ceiling is finished I have no access to remove the pipe without tearing into the ceiling. Can I remove the firebrick from the floor of the fireplace to cap the pipe off under it and then replace the firebrick safely? Is this even an issue, the installers said they could set the insert on firebricks to raise it over the pipe.

 

[begreen]

Is there a shut off valve in the basement for this line? It may be safe, but I would personally cap it down below if the insert change is permanent. An access hole down below can be patched if it is sheetrock.

 

[MountainStoveGuy]

The only issue with raising the insert over the pipe is how to trim out the area below the insert. You would need a 4 sided surround to cover the gap between the bottom of the insert and the bottom of the fireplace.

There should not be any issue removing and replacing the firebrick to shorten the nipple if you don't want to trim out the bottom of the insert.

This is not a safety hazard, it take o2, heat and fuel to make combustion. Take one of the three out and you wont get combustion.

 

[2PistolPacker]

There is a shut off valve in the floor 4 inches in front of the hearth. Either way I go, access to the gas line is non-existent without cutting into the woman cave ceiling (guess who won't be too thrilled about that) or taking the carpet up and cutting into the subfloor in front of the hearth. This install is permanent even though we'll be snowbirds in three years.

 

[begreen]

The only issue with raising the insert over the pipe is how to trim out the area below the insert. You would need a 4 sided surround to cover the gap between the bottom of the insert and the bottom of the fireplace.

There should not be any issue removing and replacing the firebrick to shorten the nipple if you don't want to trim out the bottom of the insert.

This is not a safety hazard, it take o2, heat and fuel to make combustion. Take one of the three out and you wont get combustion.

Ryan, is that you? Welcome back buddy! You da man!

I know it's 'safe', but I just don't like gas in wood fireplaces. Never have.

 

[MountainStoveGuy]

I'm with you Begreen, I don't like it either, but sometimes its just to hard to deal with. In this case, its in the bottom of the fireplace which will make trim options difficult!

 

[2PistolPacker]

After measuring the pipe stub, it sticks up 1 3/4" above the firebox floor and my hearth is 3/4" higher than the floor of the firebox. So the unit would only need to be raised slightly more than an inch to have no contact with the pipe stub. Since I am making a custom surround, I believe I can cover any gap on the sides and the insert sticks out 11 inches so you would have to get on the floor to see a gap between the insert and the hearth..

On a side question, does firewood need to be thawed to read the moisture content accurately?

 

[bholler]

On a side question, does firewood need to be thawed to read the moisture content accurately?

yes